Kevin Estre “excited about competing in Hyperpole” at Le Mans
Kevin Estre, together with his teammates Andre Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor, arrives at the iconic Le Mans circuit as the world endurance championship leader. As anticipation builds for the 24-hour race, the #6 Porsche team prepares to compete in the Hyperpole, a key highlight of the event.
Wednesday of practice and qualifying was challenging for the #6 Porsche, but they managed to qualify for Hyperpole by a slim margin of less than three-tenths of a second. “We had an hour to make the fastest lap possible,” explained Estre. “There was a lot of action on the track—with 62 cars, there were a lot of overtaking moments. I did my best, and, in the end, it worked. Half a tenth of a second was the deciding factor in our favor.”
Estre expressed his excitement at securing a place in the Hyperpole, acknowledging, however, that there is still work to be done: “Now we need to see where we can make adjustments to improve before the race. But right now, I’m excited about Hyperpole.”
In addition to Porsche #6, Porsche #12 from Hertz Jota, with Callum Ilott, Will Stevens, and Norman Nato at the wheel, also managed to qualify in the top eight. Ilott commented after qualifying: “It was tight, but our eighth place is not bad at all considering we are just a tenth of a second behind the fastest Porsche 963 in the official team. I think I managed to get the most out of it, although with 62 cars on the track, it was very difficult to get a clean lap. One thing is certain: what counts is what happens in the race.”
However, not all Porsche drivers were as lucky. Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, and Frederic Makowiecki, who compete in the #7 Porsche, failed to qualify for Hyperpole, leaving Campbell disappointed. “I’m happy for our colleagues in number 6, but personally, I’m a little disappointed. I would have preferred to have reached the hyperpole too, but today, luck was not on my side. Cars kept getting in my way, so I had to slow down. It is a shame. Now, we will start in P10 on the grid, which is not ideal.”
Hyperpole is a crucial session at Le Mans, where the eight fastest cars fight for the best positions on the starting grid. The #6 Porsche’s ranking as a top contender bodes well for Estre, Lotterer, and Vanthoor as they look to consolidate their lead in the world endurance championship.
The Le Mans 24-hour race is not just a test of speed but also of endurance and strategy. The drivers’ ability to navigate the track’s challenges and maintain consistent performance will be crucial. Estre and his team are focused on tuning their cars to ensure they can compete at the highest level throughout the race.
With the experience and talent of Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor, the #6 Porsche promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s iconic Le Mans race. Expectations are high, and the Hyperpole is just the beginning of the exciting journey that awaits the team this weekend.
